Train-stopping apparatus.



I. H. SKINNER & D. E. RILEY.

TRAIN STOPPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. I9I4.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH CQ.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

JOHN H. SKINNER AND DANIEL E. RILEY, 0F ALLEG'AN, MICHIGAN.

TRAIN-STOPPING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

L Be it known that we, JOHN H. SKINNER' and DANmL E. RILEY, citizensof the United States of America, residing at Allegan, in

This invention relates to improvements inautomatic train stopping'apparatus and has particular application to electrically operated apparatus of this character. V

In carrying out the present invention, it is our purpose to improve and simplify the general construction of automati'c train stops and to provide train stopping apparatus whereby the propelling power of two trains approaching each other head on and entering the same block or track sectionwill be automatically cut oif and the brakes applied so as to bring such trains to astandstill and so avoid a collision. It is also our purpose to provide apparatus of the class described whereby a stationary train or car in a block or section of the track will be protected from the front and from the rear so that in the event of trainsapproaching the immovable train from the front and rear, such approaching trains will be automatically stopped.

A further object of our invention is to provide, apparatus of the type set forth whereby trains will be protected at open switches and which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efliciency and durability coupled with cheapness of cost in installation and maintenance. I

With the above and other objectsin view,

Specification of Letters Patent.

the invention consists in the construction,

combination and arrangement of parts here inafter set forth inand falling within the scope of the claim. p

In the accompanying drawings; Figure .1 is a diagrammatic plan. view of automatic train stopping apparatus; constructed in. accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the car carried mechanism.' Referring nowfto'the drawings in detail, 1, l designate parallel lines of rails forming the trackway, while 2, 3 indicate feeders arranged longitudinally of the trackway and Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed July 28, 1914. Serial No. 853,669.

' spaced apart. Extendingjlongitudina-lly of the trackway and disposed at one side of the feeder 2 is a conductor 4rformed of sections 5 having the meeting ends thereof insulated one from another to divide the trackway into blocksa b, 0, etc. One end of each section 5 of the conductor overlaps the adjoining end of the adjacent conductor as at 6. EX- tending longitudinally of the trackway adjacent to the remaining feeder 3 and upon the outer side thereof is a second conductor 7 formed of a number of axially alining see tions 8 placed endto end and having the meeting ends thereof insulated from one an other as at 9, the section'S of the conductor corresponding withthe sections 5 of the conductor 4 and coiiperating therewith to divide the trackway into blocks. The end of each section 8 of the conductor 7 corresponding to the overlapped end of the companion section 5 of the conductor 4 is extended and overlaps the ad oining end of the adjacent I section 8 as at 10. By means of the overlapping ends 6 andlO of the sections 5 and 8 respectively of theconductors 4 and 7 the blocks of the trackway overlap one another so that trains will be protected at the meeting ends of the blocks as well as between the ends of the blocks.

Each car operating over the trackway is equipped with current collectors 11 and 12 adapted to ride upon the sections 5 of the conductor 4'and the overlapping ends of such sections respectively when the car is traveling in one direction upon the trackway, and upon the sections 8 of the conductor 7 and the overlapping ends -10'of such sections respectively when the direction of travel of the car is reversed; and with current collectors 13, 14: and 15 designed to ride upon the feeder 3, the sections 8 of the conductor 7. and theoverlapping ends 10 of such sectionsrespectively when the car is traveling in one direction, and upon the feeder 2, the sections 5 of the conductor 4 i and the overlapping ends 6 of such sections respectively when the direction of movement of the car is reversed. The-current collectors 11 and 12 are electrically connected to each other and to one side of a motor 16 by way of a wire 17, while the current collectors 18, 1% and 15 are electrically connected Mounted upon the shaft of the motor-l6 is a drum and connected to the drumand wrapped thereabout is one end of a cable 26 or other flexible element, the remainingend of the: cable being: passed throu-ghl an opening; in the'handle of the throttlevalve lever and secured to the finger pieceof the latching rod of the throttle lever. 'The outer end of the shaft of the motor lfiis-l. equipped with aworm that; meshes with a, worm wheel and this worm wheel is: p'r.0' vided with-an outwardly extending-crank pin connected through the medium of a linle 32 with a lug 33 pivotally secured to the handle 34 of the engineefisbrake val-ve'3 5;

By means of this construction, it will be seen that when the motor is-energi'zed, the shaft thereofwill be revolved to eXert a pull upon the rope 26 and so unlatch the throttle valve lever and swing the latter to closed position.

Simultaneously with" the rotation-of the drum, motion is imparted to the worm wheel 29 and the link 32- is reciprocated with the efiect-to manipulate the'engineerisbrake valve to effect a gradual application of the brakesto the wheels, the motor shaft rotat ing independently of the drum 20 succeeding thermovement of the throttle lever to.

closed position, incident to the spring-con nectionbetween the shaft anddrum.

In F 1g. 1 of the drawings, T and T rep:

resent two trains approaching each other, 5 tlfilnT being in block b and tra n; T1 in 4 block-'0 and entering block b. In'this position, of the trains, the motors lfi thereon are both energized, current-flowing from thefeeder 2 through the contact roller 13 to the contact roller 15 oftrain T1, the overlappingend 6 and section 5 of' the'condHCtOI'Ac COllBGtOl 11 ontrain T, wire 17;

motor 16,; wire 17, motor 16, wire 18 and collector 15; to collector 13 of train T and into the return feeder 3. Thus, the motor 16 of train T is energized; The current energizing the motor 16 on train- T' flows; from the feeder 2, through. the current col-- lector 13; the wire, l7 ',-imotor 16 on train T! wire 18, current collectorll particular sec-' tion 8 of,the conductor 7, the overlapping end 10 of such section, currentcollectorlo -on train T, and backto the return feeder 3 by way of the current collector 13 onthe last-mentionedtrain Thus, the motors 16 on trains T andT' are connected inparallel with each other and in series with the feeders 2 and '3. Shouldtrain' T be im-.

movableon' the trackway, atrain approachingtliei 'trainT head on will be broright to a stan'dstil'lwhe'fi' within the danger Zone as described and in order to protect the immovable" train-1' against approaching from the rear, as train T, a bridging piece3ti is ernployed and fastened to the 'rear'end of train T in engagement with thdrtiifitf'der 3 and the condueto'r'Tso as toielectrically,connect such feeder and conductor. Thus, when train T enters the block occupied by trainiTf themotori 1V6 on; train-,1? will be energized, current; ,fiowing;

from tlieiieedenQ,throughithe collector 1 on train TE, jw'ire 18,, n'1 otor 1,6, Wire 17;,col-i V lector' 1:1; particular section S; of fthe1 con- T ducto-r p1,"; the ;b ri;dging} piece 36? to the return feeders 3;; This-bridging zp-i ece 36 is;

employed onljfiwhen the parti'c'ular'trainis T From Ethe foregqing dQ'SOFIptIQH taken in 00111160131011 with-the accompanying draw-i ings, the construction{ and; mode'of' opera-T- tion= of onr; improved; trainiistoppingaripa: i

ratn-sgwill beereadily arent. Itwill-be seen that we have provided anautomatic. train-stop wherebytwo trains approaching; l

each other} headon are automatically brought to; a a standstill when entering the -V danger zones. wherein a train approach-inns,- v

an immovable trainfrom the --fr-onttor rear:

will'be automatically stopped?beforecollid A ing with :the, stationary-train and 1 whereby: trainsare nrotected at open switches Weclaimg:

In" train L stoppingjapparatus, the: combina= tion ,with; a traclrway, of feeders, arranged longitudinally of; the; trackway and spaced apart, conductor extending,longitudinally';ofthe -trackway adjacent to one of said feeders and formed of sections insu lated one from another to divide the track wayxinto blocksvand each hayin-g'one end-,- overlapping theadjoining end of the adja centr section,,. a second conductor extendinglongitudinallyv of, the: ltrackway adjacent to the remaining fe'ederz and; formed of secs.

tions corresponding to the sections of the first feeder and haying:the-confronting ends:

thereofinsulated from one anotherand each having: one end overlapping the adjoining 1 end of the adjacent; section corresponding to the overlapping end of the, 'companion;i section, of the 'first menti oned T conductor; L a

set of -rcar, carried ci rrent collectors electriy uy, connected and; riding upon the,;sec tions of qthe -first-tmentioned,conductor and,

the overlapping: endshthereof respective aly,- 1;-

a secondset of current collectors carried by;

the ,carand ,riding -upon: the seetions of are 3 j remaining conductor, the: I adjacentfeeder and 1 the overlapping, ends, of; saidsections respectively,- and electrically 7, connected -to; i

one another, a motor connected in circuit In testimony whereof We aflix our signa- W1th sald sets of current collectors, means tures 1n presence of tWo wltnesses.

operable from said motor to bring the car JOHN H. SKINNER.

to a standstill, and means on the rear end DANIEL E. RILEY. 5 of each car operable to bridge the last-men- Witnesses:

tioned conductor and the adjacent feeder to E. EDMONDSTON, J r.,

protect the car against rear end collisions. JOHN J. MCCARTHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

